Self indulgence: One of the best moments of my whole life

[ReidOne 12,427]

Please forgive me for posting such a self-indulgent thread, but I've had an extremely hard week at work and really need an escape with happy memories right now. So I'm (re) sharing this from the artRAVE Las Vegas!! 

First things first --- I am NOT one of the lucky ones who has ever met Gaga. This moment is as close as it has come for me. But in many ways, it's almost better than meeting her. In late July 2014, Lady Gaga "sang" a duet with my Kermit the Frog puppet in Vegas. Yes!!!! 

I had seen the artRAVE 3x before this show in Vegas, and I knew that she would be laying down on the stage in this exact spot for "MANiCURE"... so, I watched dozens of YouTube videos and studied the exact spot where she would lay down. I positioned myself there for the Vegas show. 

But, as I started to think about this impending moment, I wondered... "What do I want to happen in this moment? Do I want to just be another fan reaching up for her to touch her?" ... And I realized the answer was "no." Not only was it "no" but I realized that the artRAVE itself was built like this to give us fans an opportunity to be PART of the show! And the bring our most creative ideas. Which is when I remembered that I had a Kermit the Frog puppet in my closet (which I have had since childhood in the 90's).... So I took Kermit to the artRAVE! 

Fast forward to the show, and the moment went down exactly as planned. Gaga laid on the stage and sang directly into me and Kermit's face!!! It was SO MUCH FUN! For a split second, I felt like I was part of the show. And it wasn't just in my mind --- the arena video cameras were zoomed in on us and we ended up on the video screens when this happened. The whole arena got to enjoy Gaga and Kermit singing together for a surprise split-second duet! People were coming up to me afterwards for 10 minutes saying "I saw Kermie with Gaga!!!!!" (I had been carrying him around for a while before, lol)

Honestly, I don't know that I've ever had so much fun in my entire life. I am truly, wholeheartedly grateful to Gaga for putting on a show like the artRAVE where fans like myself were able to use our creative ideas to participate in the show itself. This moment of mine is one of literally hundreds that took place during the duration of this tour. These are some beautiful memories! I'll forever be grateful to her for giving them to us through the ARTPOP and artRAVE experience. 

 

(Skip to 0:35 for the action)

 

 

[ReidOne 12,427]

To take things a bit further, one of the biggest "moments" of this experience was the other fans themselves sharing in the excitement with me. I can honestly say, I don't think I've ever known a happier place than the general admission floor of the artRAVE. There is no other environment on earth where I have ever felt more like MYSELF or more at home than at that show. I'll forever be grateful to her for giving us this opportunity to come together in an environment that truly let our true colors shine. 

[ReidOne 12,427]

This was my view, BTW... original video above was captured by another fan, but this is what I saw myself! 

 

[JustAnotherDay 8,402]

That seems so incredible! The closest I've ever been to her was when we were in Chicago at the same time, I can't imagine having her be right there next to her 

[Quasi 10,933]

It actually looks so funny in the video lol. Just the way Kermit is closing and opening his mouth just gets to me. 

Kudos to you for having that moment with her! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much and get to cherish it forever.

I tried to throw my small drawing that was rolled up in a scroll with a letter to the main stage. But it flew five feet and probably hit someone in the head. 

I only realized that the main catwalk was also five feet behind me and it was heaps easier to toss it there. I hated myself ever since for that.

[Ronk 14,762]

Great moment!  I'm glad you have video to remember.